Frederick Douglass

external image frederick_douglass1.jpg
1818 - 1895


Frederick Douglass was born February 14, 1817 or 1818 in Talbot County, Maryland. He died February 20, 1895 in Washington D.C.
At the age of seven, Frederick Douglass was separated from his grandmother and moved to the Wye House Plantation. When the overseer passed away Frederick Douglass was given to Lucretia Auld wife of Thomas Auld. Lucretia sent Douglass to serve Thomas' brother Hugh Auld in Baltimore. When Douglass was twelve, Hugh Auld's wife Sophia started teaching him the alphabet. She was breaking the law against teaching slaves to read. In 1833, Thomas Auld took Douglass back from Hugh after a dispute. Auld later sent Douglass to work for Edward Corey, a poor farmer who had a reputation as a slave-breaker. While on this farm, Douglass was regularly whipped and beaten.

Frederick Douglass was an Abolitionist. He was a freedom fighter who dedicated his life to helping free slaves. He also wrote books and gave plenty of speeches. Two of his speeches were "The Church and Prejudice" and "Self-Made Men". He started a newspaper called the North Star. He was the editor of the paper from 1847-1851. He also wrote and published three books. Douglass gave many speeches and didn't think it was right for men to vote and women not to have the right to vote.

Frederick Douglass speeches gave hope that there would be a better tomorrow. As an Abolitionist, he inspired other people to become freedom fighters such as Harriet Tubman. Frederick Douglass made an impact on other people's lives by giving speeches and writing books. He helped lead the fight for freedom. One of his famous quotes is "I would united with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong". He will always be remembered for his work.


By Imani Omar
Class 4-401